Hornets Coach Monty Williams said afterward it was a coach's
decision that limited Gordon's second-half playing time.

Gordon finished with seven points on 2 of 3 shooting. He played
a total of 17 minutes, 44 seconds.

"Nothing wrong physically," Gordon said. "It was his
decision just to take me out of the game for the rest of the game. I thought we
were (in a good flow). You always make adjustments throughout the game. We're
down at halftime by two points, and two or three possessions (in the third
quarter), I'm out of there. I'd love to figure (it) out. You always want to do
what's best for the team. Since he took me out, he took me out.

At the time Gordon went to the bench in the third quarter,
Utah was ahead by eight points, 57-49.

The Hornets would never lead again, and tie the score just
once, at 59-59 with six minutes to go in the third.

"He (Gordon) was OK; we just decided to go in a different
direction," Williams said of the move. "We needed a little bit more effort
getting off of those screens. I thought Greivis (Vasquez) was pretty good off
the ball, and I thought Brian (Roberts) could knock down a shot, but we just
couldn't knock down a shot tonight, couldn't get free."

Vasquez, who had 13 points in the third quarter, finished with 21. Roberts was 1 of 6 and had two points.